What Happened In Pearl Harbor And Why

A series of events led to the attack on pearl harbor war between japan and the united states had been a possibility that each nation s military forces planned for in the 1920s though real tension did not begin until the 1931 invasion of manchuria by japan.

What happened in pearl harbor and why. Navy made the first geodetic survey and urged the dredging of the coral bar entrance to the harbour. About 30 years later colonel john mcallister schofield further recommended that the united states secure harbour rights. Over the next decade japan expanded slowly into china leading to the second sino japanese war in 1937. Learn more about the details and significance of the attack in this article.

As war was inevitable japan s only chance was the element of surprise and to destroy america s navy as quickly as possible. Pearl harbor attack surprise aerial attack on the u s. Pearl harbor was called wai momi pearl waters by the hawaiians because of the pearl oysters that once grew there. By the time the first japanese bomber appeared over pearl harbor on december 7 1941 tensions between japan and the united states had been mounting for the better part of a decade making war.

When the events at pearl harbor took place world war ii had already been going on for two years. The attack on pearl harbor happened because the japanese wanted to destroy the u s. On the morning of 7 december 1941 at 7 55am local time 183 aircraft of the imperial japanese navy attacked the united states naval base at pearl harbor on the island of oahu hawaii their intention was to destroy and damage as much of the us pacific fleet as possible before it could respond to japanese operations taking place on the same day against british dutch and us territories in. Japan also hoped to shatter the morale of the united states to prevent it from entering world war ii.

The attack on pearl harbor on december 7 1941 was important because it sparked the united states entrance into world war ii. The day after the japanese attacked honolulu s pearl harbor the united states declared war on japan. The attack on pearl harbor was a surprise military strike by the imperial japanese navy air service upon the united states a neutral country at the time against the naval base at pearl harbor in honolulu territory of hawaii just before 08 00 on sunday morning december 7 1941 the attack led to the united states formal entry into world war ii the next day. In 1840 lieutenant charles wilkes of the u s.

Naval base at pearl harbor on oahu island hawaii by the japanese on december 7 1941 which precipitated the entry of the united states into world war ii.